Russia to build $10-bn nuclear power plant in Belarus
04 Jun 2012
Russia and Belarus have signed an agreement for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus, reigniting the former Soviet republic's initiative to build its first nuclear power plant, moving a major step towards the country's energy security.
The agreement was signed during the recent visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to Belarus, his first visit to a foreign country after becoming the president after a four-year stint as prime minister.
The deal signed between the Belarusian government and the Russian state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom envisages setting up of a nuclear power plant with two reactors with a capacity of 1,200 megawatt (MW) each.
The proposed power plant will be built by Rosatom's subsidiary Atomstroyexport at Astravets in Hrodna Voblast, about 140km north west of capital Minsk, and 45km east of Vilnius, the capital of neighbouring Lithuania.
The new power plant will augment Belarus' total energy capacity to approximately 8,000 MW.
''Today the contract has been initialed. This means all details have been agreed upon,'' head of Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko said.
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